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ANSBACH - GERMANY
Ansbach is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It is the capital of the
administrative region of Middle Franconia. Ansbach is situated south west of
Nuremberg at the Frankish-Rezat, an arm of the Main river. Population:
39,800 (1999).
History
A Benedictine monastery at the place was founded around 748 by a Franconian
noble, Gumbertus, who was later canonized. In the following centuries the
monastery and the adjoining village grew to become the town of Ansbach (called
a town in 1221 for the first time).
In 1331 the Hohenzollern Burggraves from Nürnberg took possession of
Ansbach, which they ruled until 1806, with Ansbach as their seat. When the
Hohenzollerns were elevated to become electors of Brandenburg, the Ansbach
state was not united with Brandenburg and remained independent, as '"Brandenburg-Ansbach".
A full list of the Hohenzollern rulers of Ansbach can be found at
Hohenzollern.
In 1792 Ansbach was annexed by the Hohenzollerns of Prussia, and only
fourteen years later, in 1806, Napoleon awarded the territory of his
Hohenzollern enemy to Bavaria.
At the end of the 17th century, the margraves' palace at Ansbach was rebuilt
in Baroque style.
Since 1970, Ansbach has enlarged its municipal area by incorporating
adjacent communities.
Anspach was a small town largely by-passed by the Industrial Revolution, an
administrative and cultural center. The historical center of Ansbach was
spared during World War II and it has kept its baroque character.
Ansbach hosts several units of the U.S. armed forces, associated with German
units under NATO. There are three separate U.S. installations: Shipton
Kaserne, home to 6th Bn., 52nd Air Defense Artillery; Katterbach Kaserne,
where the 1st Division's 4th Combat Aviation Brigade resides, associated
with Bismarck Kaserne, where the post exchange, etc. are located, and Barton
Barracks, home to the 235th BSB.
Famous people
In the late 16th century, the physician to margrave Georg Friedrich was the
famous botanist, Leonhart Fuchs.
Ansbach was home of the astronomer Simon Marius, who observed Jupiter's
moons from the castle's tower. Later he claimed to be the discoverer of the
moons, which led to a dispute with the true discoverer, Galileo Galilei.
Anspach was the birthplace of the early chemist, Georg Ernst Stahl.
Kaspar Hauser lived in Ansbach from 1830 to 1833. He was murdered in the
palace gardens.
Sights
Castle of the margraves of Brandenburg-Ansbach
Margrave museum
Kaspar Hauser Monument
St. Gumbertus and St. Johannis churches, both 15th century
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